There was little time to celebrate our academic achievements. Indeed, the ceremonies were barely over when Patrick John informed me that he been resisting a strong pull towards the physical for over a week, and must now submit or risk the possibility of mental disability in his new life. We hugged and clung to each other for several minutes, each relishing the moment and reliving the short few weeks we’d been together. We both knew that although we would continue to see each other, the memories would fade quickly for him. I would continue to cherish every moment and knew that the time spent with my grandson alone, if I accomplished nothing else, was well worth my choice of this non-life. Nevertheless I was ill prepared for our next meeting at which time he showed no sign of recognition, but treated me as he did the other shadowy creatures, that came and went in his hazy night and daytime dreams. As yet we were just part of his everyday experiences and all my appearing and disappearing acts brought not a smile to his face.

Being determined to remain around Patrick John for as long as possible, I floated in and out of his vision on an almost hourly basis. As the weeks and months passed he seemed to lose sight of the others who now rarely invaded his privacy. At the same time he began paying more attention to me as I performed various stunts for his amusement alone. Sometimes I would bounce around the room on my head, at other times I would suddenly appear as a baby ghost peeping out from under his blanket. His smiles turned to the first attempts at laughter, his eyes searching the room as we played hide and seek together. It was quite different from the earlier time when he had taught me the ABC’s of ghosting, he now saw me only as a source of entertainment. Knowing as I did that time was fleeting, I stayed throughout all his waking hours and even invaded his dreams. When he became sleepy after our nightly playtime, he would smile as I slipped under the bedclothes and snuggled closely.